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Peer-Reviewed Publications

Since 2012, scientists at AbWiz Bio have co-authored peer-reviewed publications with academic and industry partners on rabbit monoclonal antibody discovery (RabWiz), in vitro affinity maturation (WizAmp), STage-Enhanced Maturation (STEM), phage display, antibody humanization, and engineering for challenging targets including GPCRs, ion channels, conserved/cross-reactive antigens and post-translationally modified (PTM) epitopes.

25Publications
2016–2026Year Range
15+Journals
Since 2012AbWiz Founded

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25 of 25 publications shown · sorted newest first

  1. Fabs targeting a Cε2 epitope disassemble IgE-receptor complexes and suppress anaphylaxis

    Wang H, Ando T, Maruyama T, Okumura SCJ, Izawa K, Kaitani A, Maehara A, Yamamoto R, Entzminger PD, Fleming JK, Nakano N, Maeda K, Yagita H, Ogawa H, Okumura K, Kitaura J.

    J Allergy Clin Immunol · 2026 Apr · 157(4):917–931

    Rabbit-immune Fab libraries raised against human IgE Cε2-4 were screened by phage display. Selected anti-Cε2 Fabs actively disassembled pre-formed IgE–FcεRI complexes on mast cells and suppressed antigen-induced anaphylaxis in vitro and in vivo, identifying Cε2 as a tractable epitope for anti-IgE therapeutics.

    RabWiz Phage Display IgG Engineering Soluble Protein Therapeutic
  2. Prospective isolation of mouse and human hematopoietic stem cells using PLXDC2

    Tanaka Y, Kubota Y, Kikuchi R, …, Kurosawa Y, Maruyama T, Okumura CJ, …, Kitamura T.

    Commun Biol · 2025 Dec 10 · 9(1):20

    PLXDC2 is identified as a marker of both mouse and human cord-blood hematopoietic stem cells. A novel anti-human PLXDC2 rabbit monoclonal antibody (developed at AbWiz Bio) enabled enrichment of PLXDC2+ HSCs with superior long-term multi-lineage reconstitution in xenograft models.

    RabWiz Soluble Protein Reagent
  3. Improving the solubility of single domain antibodies using VH-like hallmark residues

    Uto Y, Nakakido M, Yokoo T, Fernandez-Perez J, Entzminger K, Maruyama T, Okumura CJ, Kuroda D, Caaveiro JMM, Tsumoto K.

    Protein Sci · 2025 Jul · 34(7):e70189

    Two single-domain antibodies with VH-like hydrophobic FR2 hallmark residues were re-engineered using VHH-like mutations (V37Y, G44E, L45R, W47L) plus a CDR3 W99A substitution, restoring monomeric, additive-free solubility while retaining function. A practical framework for solubilising sdAbs without structural data.

    Single-domain IgG Engineering Other Engineering
  4. Specific recognition mechanism of an antibody to sulfated tyrosine and its potential use in biological research

    Ujiie K, Nakakido M, Kinoshita S, Caaveiro JMM, Entzminger CK, Okumura SCJ, Maruyama T, Miyauchi K, Matano T, Tsumoto K.

    J Biol Chem · 2025 Feb · 301(2):108176

    A rabbit monoclonal antibody specific for sulfated tyrosine on the CCR5 N-terminus (relevant to HIV co-receptor recognition) was generated by immunisation and phage display using WizAmp technology. Structural and MD analyses reveal sulfation-site-specific binding to full-length CCR5 on cells — a new probe for sulfotyrosine biology.

    RabWiz WizAmp Phage Display PTM-specific GPCR Reagent
  5. Unveiling the structural mechanisms behind high affinity and selectivity in phosphorylated epitope-specific rabbit antibodies

    Kasahara K, Kawade R, Nakakido M, Matsunaga R, Akiba H, Entzminger KC, Maruyama T, Okumura SCJ, Caaveiro JMM, Kuroda D, Tsumoto K.

    J Biol Chem · 2024 Dec · 300(12):107989

    Two rabbit monoclonal antibodies against a monophosphorylated Akt peptide were generated via WizAmp-enabled phage display. Crystallography, mutational thermodynamics and MD simulation reveal how specific atomic-level contacts drive the high affinity and selectivity that make phospho-specific rabbit mAbs uniquely useful.

    RabWiz WizAmp PTM-specific Reagent
  6. A high-sensitivity ELISA for detection of human FGF18 in culture supernatants from tumor cell lines

    Tsuchiya Y, Komazawa-Sakon S, Tanaka M, Kanokogi T, Moriwaki K, Akiba H, Yagita H, Okumura K, Entzminger KC, Okumura CJ, Maruyama T, Nakano H.

    Biochem Biophys Res Commun · 2023 Oct · 675:71–77

    Anti-human-FGF18 rabbit monoclonal antibodies generated at AbWiz Bio underpin a sandwich ELISA with a 10 pg/mL limit of detection, sensitive enough to measure secreted FGF18 in tumor cell culture supernatants — a step toward validating FGF18 as a cancer biomarker.

    RabWiz Soluble Protein Diagnostic
  7. Rapid engineering of SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic antibodies to increase breadth of neutralization including BQ.1.1, CA.3.1, CH.1.1, XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.5

    Entzminger KC, Fleming JK, Entzminger PD, Espinosa LY, Samadi A, Hiramoto Y, Okumura SCJ, Maruyama T.

    Antib Ther · 2023 Apr · 6(2):108–118

    Starting from a single Wuhan-Hu-1 parent clone, AbWiz Bio's proprietary STage-Enhanced Maturation (STEM) was used to iteratively engineer a broadly neutralising antibody panel against successive Omicron sublineages (BQ.1.1, XBB.1.16, XBB.1.5) — picomolar KD across all variants. Validates STEM as a real-time pandemic-response engineering strategy.

    STEM Phage Display IgG Engineering Viral Conserved / Cross-reactive Therapeutic
  8. Development of a novel two-dimensional gel electrophoresis protocol with agarose native gel electrophoresis

    Nakagawa M, Tomioka Y, Sakuma C, Kurosawa Y, Shibata T, Arakawa T, Akuta T.

    Electrophoresis · 2023 Sep · 44(17–18):1446–1460

    A two-dimensional gel protocol that pairs His/MES agarose native gel (1D) with SDS-PAGE or flat SDS-agarose (2D), enabling combined native-charge and size separation of antibodies, antigen–antibody complexes and large oligomers in a single day.

    Analytical Other Engineering
  9. Bivalent intra-spike binding provides durability against emergent Omicron lineages: results from a global consortium

    Callaway HM, Hastie KM, …, Entzminger KC, Fleming JK, …, Maruyama T, Okumura CJ, …, Saphire EO. (Coronavirus Immunotherapeutic Consortium, CoVIC)

    Cell Rep · 2023 Jan 31 · 42(1):112014

    Global CoVIC analysis of ~400 antibody candidates shows that durable Omicron neutralisation comes from bivalent intra-spike RBD engagement — antibodies that bind two adjacent RBDs on the same trimer keep activity, whereas monovalent binders lose it. Has implications for next-generation vaccine antigen design.

    RabWiz IgG Engineering Viral Therapeutic
  10. Detection of concentration-dependent conformational changes in SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein by agarose native gel electrophoresis

    Sato R, Tomioka Y, Sakuma C, Nakagawa M, Kurosawa Y, Shiba K, Arakawa T, Akuta T.

    Anal Biochem · 2023 Feb · 662:114995

    Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein behaves as a dimer with concentration-dependent charge and shape behaviour, revealed by His/MES agarose native gel electrophoresis. Useful for diagnostic assay development and NP biology.

    Analytical Viral Diagnostic
  11. Analysis of bovine serum albumin unfolding in the absence and presence of ATP by SYPRO Orange staining of agarose native gel electrophoresis

    Tomioka Y, Nakagawa M, Sakuma C, Kurosawa Y, Nagatoishi S, Tsumoto K, Arakawa T, Akuta T.

    Anal Biochem · 2022 Oct · 654:114817

    SYPRO Orange staining of agarose native gels selectively visualises unfolded protein states, capturing an ATP-modulated intermediate during thermal unfolding of BSA. Demonstrates a new way to track conformational change in solution.

    Analytical Other Engineering
  12. A new method to characterize conformation-specific antibody by a combination of agarose native gel electrophoresis and contact blotting

    Akuta T, Maruyama T, Sakuma C, Nakagawa M, Tomioka Y, Entzminger K, Fleming JK, Sato R, Shibata T, Kurosawa Y, Okumura CJ, Arakawa T.

    Antibodies (Basel) · 2022 May · 11(2):36

    Review of a workflow combining native agarose gel electrophoresis with contact blotting onto membranes to discover conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies — applied at AbWiz Bio to find clones that recognise the native folds of PLXDC2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike.

    RabWiz Analytical Conserved / Cross-reactive Viral Discovery
  13. Gel-electrophoresis based method for biomolecular interaction

    Arakawa T, Nakagawa M, Tomioka Y, Sakuma C, Li C, Sato T, Sato R, Shibata T, Kurosawa Y, Akuta T.

    Methods Cell Biol · 2022 · 169:67–95

    Methods-volume chapter detailing vertical and horizontal His/MES agarose native gel protocols, staining options and applications for analysing biomolecular interactions in their native state — a reference for groups adopting the workflow.

    Analytical Other Engineering
  14. Antibody recognition of complement factor H reveals a flexible loop involved in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome pathogenesis

    Yokoo T, Tanabe A, Yoshida Y, Caaveiro JMM, Nakakido M, Ikeda Y, Fujimura Y, Matsumoto M, Entzminger K, Maruyama T, Okumura CJ, Nangaku M, Tsumoto K.

    J Biol Chem · 2022 Jun · 298(6):101962

    A heavy-chain antibody fragment (VHH4) recognises a flexible Leu1181–Leu1189 loop in CCP20 of complement factor H — the same epitope targeted by pathogenic anti-CFH autoantibodies in aHUS. The structure provides a molecular rationale for how anti-CFH autoantibodies drive disease.

    RabWiz Single-domain Phage Display Soluble Protein Therapeutic
  15. Western blotting of native proteins from agarose gels

    Sakuma C, Nakagawa M, Tomioka Y, Maruyama T, Entzminger K, Fleming JK, Shibata T, Kurosawa Y, Okumura CJ, Arakawa T, Akuta T.

    BioTechniques · 2022 May · 72(5):207–218

    Two His/MES-buffered Western blotting workflows transfer natively folded GFP, human PLXDC2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike from agarose gels to PVDF for detection by conformation-specific in-house antibodies — bridging native discovery with reliable blot read-out.

    RabWiz Analytical Conserved / Cross-reactive Viral Engineering
  16. Novel inhibitors of histamine-releasing factor suppress food allergy in a murine model

    Kawakami Y, Kurosawa Y, Oltean D, Espinosa LY, Kim HS, Lemersal I, Kawakami Y, Okumura S, Maruyama T, Kawakami T.

    Allergol Int · 2022 Jan · 71(1):147–149

    Letter reporting novel inhibitors of histamine-releasing factor (HRF) that suppress IgE-driven food-allergy responses in a murine model — antibody discovery work performed at AbWiz Bio in collaboration with La Jolla Institute for Immunology.

    RabWiz Soluble Protein Therapeutic
  17. Optimization and application of silver staining of non-glycosylated and glycosylated proteins and nucleic acids for agarose native gel electrophoresis

    Nakagawa M, Tomioka Y, Sakuma C, Sato R, Shibata T, Kurosawa Y, Sato Y, Ono Y, Arakawa T, Akuta T.

    Int J Biol Macromol · 2021 Oct · 189:869–878

    Benchmark of five commercial silver-staining kits on agarose native gels identifies Bio-Rad Silver Stain Plus as best for low background and reproducible band detection, including for nucleic-acid contamination QC on purified antibodies.

    Analytical Other Engineering
  18. A rabbit monoclonal antibody-mediated lateral flow immunoassay for rapid detection of CTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales

    Nishida S, Nakagawa M, Ouchi Y, Sakuma C, Nakajima Y, Shimizu H, Shibata T, Kurosawa Y, Maruyama T, Okumura CJ, Hatayama N, Sato Y, Asahara M, Ishigaki S, Furukawa T, Akuta T, Ono Y.

    Int J Biol Macromol · 2021 Aug · 185:317–323

    A rabbit monoclonal antibody (RabWiz workflow) drives a lateral-flow immunoassay that detects CTX-M ESBL variants from groups 1, 2 and 9 in clinical Enterobacterales isolates with 100% sensitivity/specificity and a 0.8 ng/mL detection limit — a candidate point-of-care AMR test.

    RabWiz Other Diagnostic
  19. Structural basis for antigen recognition by methylated lysine-specific antibodies

    Ishii M, Nakakido M, Caaveiro JMM, Kuroda D, Okumura CJ, Maruyama T, Entzminger K, Tsumoto K.

    J Biol Chem · 2021 Jan · 296:100176

    Rabbit monoclonal antibodies against trimethyl-Lys260 of MAP3K2 were generated by WizAmp-enabled phage display. Crystal structures and biophysics map how a CDR cage selectively recognises a trimethyl-lysine — a template for designing methylsite-specific antibodies de novo.

    RabWiz WizAmp Phage Display PTM-specific Reagent
  20. Western blotting analysis of proteins separated by agarose native gel electrophoresis

    Sakuma C, Sato T, Shibata T, Nakagawa M, Kurosawa Y, Okumura CJ, Maruyama T, Arakawa T, Akuta T.

    Int J Biol Macromol · 2021 Jan · 166:1106–1110

    A simple His/MES native-agarose Western protocol resolves recombinant antibody expression, MAP-kinase phosphorylation state and β-galactosidase oligomerisation in one workflow — broadening the analytical toolkit for antibody discovery and characterisation projects.

    Analytical Other Engineering
  21. Agarose native gel electrophoresis for characterization of antibodies

    Li C, Akuta T, Nakagawa M, Sato T, Shibata T, Maruyama T, Okumura CJ, Kurosawa Y, Arakawa T.

    Int J Biol Macromol · 2020 May · 151:885–890

    Establishes that native agarose gel electrophoresis can simultaneously characterise monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, raw cell-culture supernatants, animal serum and antibody stability under optimised buffer / run-time / agarose conditions.

    Analytical Other Engineering
  22. Roles of the disulfide bond between the variable and the constant domains of rabbit immunoglobulin kappa chains in thermal stability and affinity

    Kawade R, Akiba H, Entzminger K, Maruyama T, Okumura CJ, Tsumoto K.

    Protein Eng Des Sel · 2018 Jul · 31(7–8):243–247

    The unusual VL-CL inter-domain disulfide in rabbit kappa chains contributes substantially to antibody thermal stability without affecting affinity or recognition mode — an engineering lever for stabilising designer antibody scaffolds.

    RabWiz IgG Engineering Other Engineering
  23. Improving the quality of a recombinant rabbit monoclonal antibody against PLXDC2 by optimizing transient expression conditions and purification method

    Shimizu H, Nakagawa M, Todaka N, Imaizumi K, Kurosawa Y, Maruyama T, Okumura CJ, Shibata T, Tanaka Y, Sato Y, Ono Y, Akuta T.

    Protein Expr Purif · 2018 Jun · 146:27–33

    Hypothermic (32 °C) HEK293-6E transient expression combined with ammonium-sulfate precipitation and DEAE monolith chromatography yields recombinant anti-PLXDC2 rabbit mAb with higher glycosylation homogeneity and Western-blot performance than commercial polyclonals.

    RabWiz IgG Engineering Soluble Protein Engineering
  24. Capto MMC mixed-mode chromatography of murine and rabbit antibodies

    Arakawa T, Kurosawa Y, Storms M, Maruyama T, Okumura CJ, Kita Y.

    Protein Expr Purif · 2016 Nov · 127:105–110

    Capto MMC mixed-mode chromatography is developed as a capture step for both murine and rabbit monoclonal antibodies from HEK conditioned medium, with arginine-gradient elution producing high-purity material suitable for downstream characterization.

    IgG Engineering Other Engineering

Affiliated publications

The paper below was indexed by PubMed under our institutional footprint but does not list a current AbWiz Bio author affiliation in the published byline. We include it for completeness because it shares methods and reagents with our native-gel platform work.

Decade of peer-reviewed antibody science

Our team has co-authored 25 peer-reviewed publications since 2016 — the year our first listed work appeared in print — in journals including Cell Reports, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Communications Biology, Protein Science, Antibody Therapeutics, and BioTechniques, with collaborators at the University of Tokyo, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, Juntendo University, Kyushu University, Saga University, NIH, NIID, and the global CoVIC consortium.

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